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"Pads, Paws and Claws"

With the return of colder weather we are being visited by the neighbourhood cats on a more frequent basis. Miss Kitty is usually the first one in the mornings. She I believe is a stray. Talking with a neighbour recently she mentioned she (Miss Kitty) has been in the neighbourhood for a few years. I let her come in the house a couple times a day but she is still very skittish. I can pet her but as soon as I run my hand down her body she pulls away. I don't want to be shredded so I won't attempt to pick her up.

Also with the cooler weather I have been going through my cookbooks looking for some new recipes to try. I came across this old cookbook a year or so ago at our local library bookstore. It was in a box of books they had just received. The volunteer running the store told me to take whatever I wanted out as she hadn't had time to go through it yet. I spotted a plain, black book and opened it up. This is what I saw. I almost did a happy dance and clutched the book to my chest. I did show it to the volunteer but she said all the books are the same price so again for a toonie ($2.00) it was mine.

The book is in fairly good shape with only a few loose pages. The recipes are very interesting. Obviously this page was a favourite!

I really enjoy the advertising in these old church cookbooks too.

Physician's advertising!

I can't imagine hanging out clothes in a blizzard. That is quite a claim!

My Dad remembers his Mom getting her flour in barrels

Here is the photo of the church from the front of the cookbook.
St. Johnsbury is a small town with a population of 7600. It is in Northern Vermont 77 kms (48 miles) from the Canada/U.S. border. The church was built in 1847 and this past Summer closed and amalgamated with another church due to a dwindling congregation. Below is a recent photo.

We spent yesterday morning in Trenton doing errands and checking in with our banker about our retirement savings. Next door to the bank is a delicatessen that sells food from around the world. For me Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Pffernusse. My Oma made it every year and it probably has been 16 years (since she passed away) that I have had really good Pffernusse. I have attempted to make them over the years but they turn out like little cannonballs! This brand comes close to hers. I had to taste them to ensure they were good! I imagine these will be gone before Christmas. Katenzungen is a new tradition for Chuck and I. Chuck's cousin Chaya down in Connecticut sent us some for Hanukkah five years ago and we have been enjoying it ever since. Luckily we can find them locally. Bonus, they were having buy one get one free on the Katzenzungen!

Isn't she gorgeous! She came in for a snack yesterday and a cuddle. She loves to be brushed too. I wonder if her owners question why she isn't too hungry when she goes home!

Gorgeous sunset a couple nights ago. The cloud on the left looks like a snowy mountain.

We are off for a long walk today as it is a lovely morning.
Enjoy your weekend!
Robin

I haven't tried the Katzenzungen yet but it sounds yummy. I thought the same thing when I saw "Cookery Craft". I thought it was an old Pagan Cookbook.Just a few more weeks until the Solstice. It starts to get dark here just after 4:00. Too early!I feel very bad that Sweet Pea will no longer come in the house. I do see him eating at the bowls. I just wish people would put collars on their cats. As you know of the five that come by for food, only one wears a collar.Take care Kim.

Hi Karen, I did try and make pfeffernusse for a few years but they never turned out. If I'm not going to eat them I won't make anyone else eat them!I have been on a roll lately for finding interesting books. Hope it continues!

That was a lovely sunset, beautiful. Miss Kitty is gorgeous, I love her blue eyes. Great find with the cookery book, it's nice to think that someone treasured it once and now it's being looked after again xx

Hi Cheryl, we are blessed with a good vantage point to see the sunset everyday.I am very pleased I found this cookbook. In the back are a number of handwritten recipes too. A couple say "From Good Housekeeping December 1900" Anything old fascinates me.

I can't make good pfeffnusse either but I used to make them anyway. My kids grew up thinking that was how they should be. I notice they don't ask for them any more. I find it funny that you, who loves cats, should like the Katzenzungen ( which I'm sure you know means cats' tongues!!The old cookbook is a treasure!

I thought I was the only Mennonite that couldn't make Pfeffernusse! ;)It isn't a very pleasant name for the chocolates is it? I guess it is because they are rather small. Squirrel tongue wouldn't have gone over too well! :p

Well, I've never heard of those hard to pronounce cookies, but enjoyed hearing about them. That big white cat is just beautiful. There are two that live at the vet's office and I do enjoy seeing them when we visit. That cookbook is amazing. Never seen one that old.

Hi Henny, the cookies are pronounced "Fefurnoose" or thereabouts!Snowball is gorgeous. We are beginning to think she is a Maine Coon cat. She has the largest feet I have ever seen on a cat.I am surprised a cookbook from the 1890's is still around too.Have a good week!

Hi Robin! Wow! You are very nice to feed the strays. The siamese is so pretty. I wish she had a home. Holiday treats that represent traditions are the best. I love that cookbook. I've been reading my granny's diaries again and she mentions baking pies, cakes, cookies, rolls . . . drool.

We started off feeding the cats in the neighbourhood a couple of days after we moved in. Sweet Pea was so thin I was horrified. He has fattened up quite a bit now and only seems to come around once a day now.I LOVE old diaries. You are so blessed to have your grandmothers. Enjoy your week!

Thanks Jenn and thanks for popping by. I have a weakness for old books, well anything old! But books especially.It is hard when a family member is allergic to certain foods. Chuck has to watch how much dairy products he eats.Have a good week!

Looking through old cookbooks is interesting. My Mom and I went through two old cigar boxes full of recipes that my Great Gma saved. Many recipes from the depression era. I agree with you, the advertisements, grocery store sales and "Dear Abby" type columns were fun to see.

Hope you found a couple recipes to try!

Thank You for dropping in at my blog and leaving a comment. It's fun to see new names.

Thank you for dropping by my blog! When my Oma died I was given her two boxes of recipes. I felt so honoured that the family wanted me to have them.I haven't tried any of the recipes from this book yet. The measurements are sometimes rather vague.Take care!